In-ground root protection system and method

Abstract

A method and system for protecting roots of plants, including: an encasement disposed in a hole formed in soil, the encasement serves as a barrier between contents of the encasement and the soil surrounding the hole; and a feeding means, for communicating sustenance to roots of at least one plant disposed in the encasement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for protecting roots of plants, comprising:
 an encasement disposed in a hole formed in soil, said encasement serves as a barrier between contents of said encasement and said soil surrounding said hole; and   a feeding means, for communicating sustenance via a mouth of said encasement to roots of at least one plant disposed in said encasement.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one plant is secured in said mouth of said encasement, such that roots of said at least one plant descend into said encasement and a stem and flower of said at least one plant protrude above said soil. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said encasement is a formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one plant is secured in said mouth of said encasement by said soil packed against said stem, trapping an upper edge of said flexible material against said stein. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one plant is secured in said mouth of said encasement by a support arrangement resting atop said soil in which said hole is formed. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least part of said encasement has at least one characteristic selected from the group including: biodegradable, semi permeable, non permeable, flexible, semi-rigid, rigid, insulated, chemically treated on an internal surface, an external surface with one or more substances selected from the group including: pesticides, herbicides, weed control agents, pest control agents, ascaricides, molluskicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematocides. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid structure disposed inside said encasement, said rigid structure adapted to support said encasement, which defined an internal volume therein, against external pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said feeding means includes an irrigation conduit operationally coupled to a sustenance reservoir on a proximal end and disposed inside said encasement on a distal end, said irrigation conduit adapted to communicate sustenance from said sustenance reservoir to said roots. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said sustenance reservoir includes at least one of: fluid, gas and nutrients. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a pump adapted to move sustenance through said irrigation conduit under pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said pump is adapted to selectively propel said sustenance from said sustenance reservoir to said encasement and suction material out of said encasement. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said pump is adapted to communicate gaseous material from a gaseous reservoir to said encasement. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said gaseous material is heated or cooled. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an internal volume of said encasement is partially filled with sustenance such that only a portion of said roots are in contact with said sustenance. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an irrigation conduit adapted to sustain a predefined level of said sustenance. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a floater device adapted to allow sustenance through said irrigation conduit into said internal volume when said sustenance in said internal volume is below said predefined level and to disallow sustenance through said irrigation conduit when said sustenance is above said predefined level. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said sustenance is conveyed though said irrigation conduit at a pressure configured to override said floater device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said irrigation conduit has a spray nozzle disposed at a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said feeding means includes:
 an internal sustenance reservoir disposed inside said encasement, and   a non-porous material operationally coupling said roots to said internal sustenance reservoir such that said roots receive sustenance from said internal sustenance reservoir by capillary action.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising an irrigation conduit operationally coupled to an external reservoir on a proximal end and disposed inside said encasement at a distal end, said irrigation conduit adapted to communicate sustenance from said external reservoir to said internal sustenance reservoir disposed in said encasement. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said encasement includes a plurality of plants. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of plants is secured in a mouth of said encasement by a support arrangement. 
     
     
         23 . A method of providing in ground root protection, comprising:
 providing a hole in the ground; inserting an encasement in said hole; inserting a plant in said encasement such that roots of said plant are disposed inside said encasement and at least part of a stem of said plant protrudes out of said encasement via a mouth of said encasement;   providing sustenance to said roots disposed in said encasement via said mouth.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said sustenance is housed in an external reservoir and conveyed to said roots via an irrigation conduit. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said sustenance is disposed inside said encasement. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said encasement further comprises non-porous filling and said sustenance is conveyed to said roots via capillary action. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said sustenance is conveyed in a vapor form. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein material disposed in said encasement is extracted via said irrigation conduit. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said plant is held in said encasement by a support arrangement. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said support arrangement secures a flexible edge of said encasement against said stem. 
     
     
         31 . A method of providing in ground protection, comprising:
 providing a hole in the ground;   inserting an encasement in said hole;   providing a growth medium in said encasement; and   providing a seed in said growth medium, said encasement adapted to provide a protective environment for said seed to develop.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said encasement further includes a net structure adapted to hold at least a portion of said growth medium. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising an external reservoir housing sustenance and an irrigation conduit adapted to convey said sustenance to said encasement.